PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Legislation to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in Rhode Island is headed to its first test in the General Assembly today.

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill on Tuesday afternoon. If the panel passes the measure as expected, it will head to the full House for consideration, possibly as early as Thursday.

House Speaker Gordon Fox (D-Providence), has said he wants the House to vote on the legislation by month’s end.

Advocates for marriage equality say they expect the bill to pass the House, but concede that the Senate is a tougher challenge. Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Newport), an opponent of same-sex marriage, said last week that she remains opposed to the legislation.